
Our Opinions Are Correct
How to turn a story into a deadly weapon
May 2, 2024
Annalee, author of Stories Are Weapons, discusses psychological warfare in the U.S., highlighting culture wars and resistance to propaganda. Topics include psyops, influence campaigns, indigenous rights, community storytelling, book adaptations with potatoes, mirror selves in Star Trek, and interpretations in creative works.
53:34
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Stories can be utilized as psychological weapons in military and culture wars.
- Speculative fiction can challenge coherence by pushing absurdism to extremes.
Deep dives
Absurdism and Speculative Fiction
In speculative fiction, the connection to absurdism is evident through the use of speculative elements to push real aspects to absurd extremes or to introduce bizarre elements into a realistic setting, highlighting the absurdity of human society and reactions. Absurdism can serve to challenge the perception that the world makes sense, puncturing a sense of false coherence. However, there can be concerns that absurdism, if not carefully navigated, could inadvertently create chaos that authoritarian figures might exploit by presenting themselves as stable in an unstable world.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.